Business ResourceThe Gateway Library

Resource No. 021 · PRO, Visas & Residency

Investor residency in Qatar: the real "golden visa"

Residency through business investment, property at QR 730,000 and QR 3.65 million, the new entrepreneur and executive programme, permanent residency, eligible areas, documents and contacts.

Business investor

Five-year residence without an employer sponsor

MOI · MOCI

Property 730k

Five-year residence while you own it

MOJ · MOI

Property 3.65m

Plus permanent residents' health, education and investment benefits

MOJ · MOI

Entrepreneur

Incubator-backed founders, self-sponsored

Invest Qatar · Jusour

Permanent residency

Separate card: 20 years' residence and more

MOI

Golden rule: "golden visa" is a marketing term in Qatar. Ask which legal route you are buying into, because buying a QR 3.65 million property gives permanent residents' benefits, not an automatic permanent residency card.

Updated Oct 2026Compiled from Law No. 21 of 2015, Cabinet Decision No. 28 of 2020, Law No. 10 of 2018, MOI, MOJ, Aqarat and Invest Qatar.
Programme terms announced in 2026 still differ between official sources, so confirm before you invest.

addressgateway.com
Doha, Qatar

Business ResourceThe Gateway Library

Resource No. 021

Welcome to the Gateway Library

More than company formation

Address Gateway has helped entrepreneurs, SMEs and global companies set up in Qatar for over a decade. Forming the company is only the first gate. After that come the licences, permits, approvals and renewals that decide whether you can actually operate. The Gateway Library is where we turn that hard-won, on-the-ground knowledge into free, practical guides you can act on.

10+

Years in Qatar

1,000+

Companies formed

021

In the series · more coming

What every Business Resource gives you

One clear workflowEvery authority involved, in the order you meet them.

Decision flowchartsFind your route in under a minute.

Checklists & templatesDocuments, forms and ready-to-send emails.

Sourced & datedOfficial sources cited, with a clear "as of" date.

The collection is growing

Guides are live or in production across five collections.

Collection A

Formation & Structure

Starting a company as a foreigner, structures and ownership.

Now live

Collection B

Licences & Permits

Drones, food businesses and content creators.

Now live

Collection C

PRO, Visas & Residency

Employer duties and 2026 compliance.

Now live

Collection D

Tax & Compliance

GTA registration, filings, renewals and deadlines.

In production

Collection E

Growth & Operations

Business events, branding and scaling in the GCC.

Now live

Have a topic you need covered? Tell us at startup@addressgateway.com. The questions our clients ask most are the ones we publish next.

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Resource No. 021

Overview

The big picture

Qatar has five official routes to residence linked to investment or talent. Each gives a different status, so match the route to what you actually want: to live here, to sponsor family, or to settle long term.

Route	What qualifies	What you get	Basis
Business investor	An investment approved under the foreign-investment rules; no fixed amount published	5 years, renewable, no employer sponsor	Law No. 21 of 2015, Arts 30, 32¹
Property: QR 730,000	Owned property or usufruct at MOJ market value, in eligible areas	5 years, renewed while you own it; family can join	Decision No. 28 of 2020, Art 7²
Property: QR 3.65 million	Same, at QR 3,650,000 or more	As above, plus permanent residents' health, education and investment benefits	Decision No. 28 of 2020, Art 7^2,3
Entrepreneur	Incubator endorsement and QR 36,500 bank balance (USD 10,000 if overseas)	Long-term, self-sponsored, renewable	Invest Qatar, Feb 2026⁴
Executive	Senior role, QID, salary QR 50,000+ (C-suite) or 80,000+	Long-term, renewable	Invest Qatar⁴
Permanent Residency Card	20 years' residence (10 if born here), income, good conduct, Arabic	Permanent status; up to 100 granted a year	Law No. 10 of 2018^5,6

Five or ten years? QNA reported a 10-year programme in February 2026; Invest Qatar's launch release says five years, renewable.^4,7 Confirm the term with Jusour.

No minimum for business investors was found in the law. Claims of QR 100,000, 250,000 or 3 million thresholds are not official.¹

Choose your route: decision flowchart4

Document checklists8

Property: where foreigners can buy5

Entrepreneur and executive programme9

Property route step by step6

Permanent residency, fees, contacts10

Business investor route7

Email template and action plan11

Sources · 1 Law No. 21 of 2015 (entry and residence), consolidated · 2 Cabinet Decision No. 28 of 2020 (Al Meezan) · 3 Aqarat: non-Qatari ownership · 4 Invest Qatar: residency for entrepreneurs and executives · 5 Law No. 10 of 2018 · 6 Hukoomi, 16 Aug 2021 · 7 QNA, 1 Feb 2026

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Business ResourceThe Gateway Library

Resource No. 021

Step 0

Choose your route

Start with what you are bringing to Qatar: a business, property, a startup or a senior role.

Owning shares is not the same as investor residence. If your own company sponsors you as an employee, that is employer sponsorship, not the investor route under Article 30.¹

Sources · 1 Law No. 21 of 2015, Arts 17, 30, 32, 33 · 2 Cabinet Decision No. 28 of 2020, Art 7 · 4 Invest Qatar: residency for entrepreneurs and executives · 5 Law No. 10 of 2018

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Resource No. 021

Property

Where foreigners can buy

Non-Qataris may own freehold in ten designated areas and hold usufruct (use rights) for up to 99 years, renewable, in sixteen more.^2,3

Freehold ownership

Area	Zone
Al Qassar	60
Al Dafna	61
Onaiza	63
West Bay (Legtaifiya)	66
The Pearl	66
Lusail	69
Al Kharayej	69
Jabal Thuaileb	69
Simaisma Resort & Beach 2026	70
Al Khor Resort	74

Usufruct up to 99 years

Area	Zone
Msheireb	13
Fereej Abdul Aziz	14
Al Doha Al Jadeeda	15
Old Al Ghanim	16
Al Rufaa and Old Al Hitmi	17
Al Salata	18
Fereej Bin Mahmoud	22, 23
Rawdat Al Khail	24
Al Mansoura, Fereej Bin Durham	25
Najma	26
Umm Ghuwailina	27
Al Khulaifat	28
Al Sadd	38
Al Mirqab Al Jadeed, Fereej Al Nasr	39
Doha International Airport area	48

Outside these areas, foreigners may also own residential units in residential complexes and office or shop units in commercial complexes and malls, subject to conditions.^2,3 Check the specific title deed, not just the neighbourhood name.

Sources · 2 Cabinet Decision No. 28 of 2020, as amended by Decision No. 21 of 2026 · 3 Aqarat (Real Estate Regulatory Authority): eligible areas, checked 20 Oct 2026

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Resource No. 021

Property route

Property route step by step

Residence comes after registration: the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) approves the property, then the Ministry of Interior (MOI) issues the permit.^2,8

1Check eligibilityTitle in an eligible area; value at MOJ market value

2RegisterPurchase or usufruct with MOJ Real Estate Registration

3MOJ approvalResidence approval; service estimate about 2 days

4MOI permitResidence permit and QID; then family

Conditions

Keeping the residence

Five years, renewed on payment of fees while you still own the property or usufruct.^1,2
You must spend at least 90 days a year in Qatar.²
Spouse, children and parents can reside with you, each with their own application.¹
Value is the MOJ's adopted market value, not the developer's price.²

Ask before you buy

Unclear cases

Off-plan units, mortgaged purchases and jointly owned units are not settled in the rules we reviewed.
Combining several smaller properties to reach a threshold: get written confirmation.
Fees: an embassy page lists QR 200 for the owner visa; no full fee schedule was verified.⁹

QR 3.65 million is not permanent residency. It adds the healthcare, education and investment privileges of permanent residents. It does not issue the Permanent Residency Card, and the 90-day presence rule is not waived.^2,3

Sources · 1 Law No. 21 of 2015, Arts 30, 32, 33 · 2 Cabinet Decision No. 28 of 2020, Arts 6, 7 · 3 Aqarat · 8 MOJ residence approval service (gov.qa), 30 Jan 2025 · 9 Qatar Embassy, Vienna: real estate visa

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Business ResourceThe Gateway Library

Resource No. 021

Business route

Business investor route

Forming a company comes first. The investor residence then needs a letter from the relevant authority confirming your investment.^1,10

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Weeks 5–6

Weeks 7–8

Activity and ownership approval

Single Window

CR, premises, permit

see Gateway Library No. 019

Establishment card, bank

MOI · bank

Authority letter on investment

ask MOCI

Investor residence and QID

MOI

Illustrative only. No official processing time for the investor residence was found.

MOI regulations, Art 19

Investor visa application

Prescribed application form¹⁰
Letter from the relevant authority identifying the investment¹⁰
Valid passport¹⁰
Good-conduct certificate¹⁰

Know the numbers

What is and is not a threshold

No fixed minimum investment for investor residence was found in the law.¹
Company setup fees start at about QR 2,200; that is formation, not a residence threshold.¹¹
An MOI investor visa service shows QR 200; confirm the current fee.¹²

Sources · 1 Law No. 21 of 2015, Arts 30, 32 · 10 MOI Executive Regulations (Decision No. 25 of 2019), Art 19 · 11 Invest Qatar setup guide (MOCI-hosted) · 12 MOI investor visa service (indexed)

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Resource No. 021

Paperwork

Document checklists

Attest documents from abroad through the issuing country's foreign ministry and the Qatar embassy before you travel.⁴

Property owner

QID or passport⁸
Copy of the original title deed⁸
Good-conduct certificate (if not resident)⁸
MOI form and ownership letter¹⁰
Valid travel document¹⁰

Entrepreneur (overseas)

Passport valid 6+ months⁴
Photograph⁴
Attested 3-month bank statement, USD 10,000+⁴
CV⁴
Attested police clearance⁴
Incubator endorsement letter⁴

Family members

MOI form¹⁰
Family member's passport¹⁰
Your residence permit¹⁰
Proof of relationship (attested)¹⁰
Good conduct for those 18+¹⁰

Entrepreneur already in Qatar

Document	Note
QID and photo	Applicant must be 18 or older⁴
Bank statement	Stamped, three months, minimum balance QR 36,500⁴
CV	Founder background⁴
Incubator endorsement	From a recognised Qatar incubator⁴
Establishment card	Of your company⁴

Sources · 4 Invest Qatar: residency for entrepreneurs and executives · 8 MOJ residence approval service · 10 MOI Executive Regulations (Decision No. 25 of 2019)

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Business ResourceThe Gateway Library

Resource No. 021

New in 2026

Entrepreneur and executive programme

Launched in February 2026 and run with Jusour, this long-term, self-sponsored residency targets founders and senior executives.⁴

Join an incubator

→

Nominated to Jusour

→

Link to apply

→

Documents

→

Approval

QID

Entrepreneurs

Who qualifies

Aged 18 or older.⁴
Endorsed by a recognised Qatar incubator.⁴
Bank balance of at least QR 36,500 over the last three months; overseas applicants show USD 10,000.⁴
Benefits listed: sponsor family and domestic workers, family visit visas, own assets, incubator support.⁴
No fee or processing time is published.

Executives

Who qualifies

Already living in Qatar with a QID.⁴
Nominated by an eligible employer, such as a listed company or licensed financial institution.⁴
At least five years' senior-management experience.⁴
Salary at least QR 50,000 a month (named C-suite roles) or QR 80,000 (other executive directors).⁴
A self-given CEO title in your own startup is not enough.⁴

Five or ten years? The Prime Minister announced a 10-year programme (QNA, 1 February 2026); Invest Qatar's launch release the next day said five years with renewal.^4,7 Ask Jusour which applies to you before you plan around it.

Sources · 4 Invest Qatar: Residency Program for Entrepreneurs & Executives (page and release, 2 Feb 2026) · 7 QNA, 1 Feb 2026

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Business ResourceThe Gateway Library

Resource No. 021

Long term

Permanent residency, fees, contacts

Permanent Residency Card

20 years' legal residence (10 if born in Qatar).^5,6
Income: QR 20,000 basic salary (government) or QR 30,000 total (private sector).⁶
Good conduct and adequate Arabic.⁶
Up to 100 cards a year, unless increased.⁵
Fees: QR 3,000 to apply (non-refundable, covers family) and QR 3,000 on issue.¹³
"Permanent" can still be withdrawn under the law.⁵

Known fees

Item	QAR
PR card: application / issuance	3,000 / 3,000
Property owner visa (embassy page)	200
Investor visa (MOI, indexed)	200
Entrepreneur programme	Not published

Official contacts

MOJ · Non-Qatari ownershipProperty residence approval

CALL: +974 4021 6669 · hotline 137
EMAIL: nqo@moj.gov.qa⁸

JusourEntrepreneur and executive residency

CALL: +974 4401 1009 (Sun–Thu 7:30–14:30)
EMAIL: Residency@jusour.qa⁴

Ministry of InteriorResidence and permanent residency

CALL: +974 2367 111
EMAIL: info@moi.gov.qa¹³

Invest QatarBusiness investment support

CALL: +974 4496 7575
EMAIL: info@invest.qa¹¹

HukoomiGovernment contact centre

PHONE: 109

Sources · 4 Invest Qatar · 5 Law No. 10 of 2018 · 6 Hukoomi: permanent residency, 16 Aug 2021 · 8 MOJ service (gov.qa) · 11 Invest Qatar setup guide · 13 MOI: permanent residency FAQ

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Resource No. 021

Get started

Your first move

Before you sign a property contract or move capital, get written confirmation that your exact plan qualifies.

To: nqo@moj.gov.qa · Subject: Residence through property: eligibility of a specific unit

Dear Non-Qatari Ownership Office,

I am considering buying property in Qatar and would appreciate confirmation of residence eligibility.

Buyer: [Full name, nationality, passport or QID]
Property: [Project, zone, unit, ready / off-plan], price [QAR]
Purchase: [Cash / mortgage; sole / joint ownership]

Could you please confirm: (1) whether this unit is eligible for non-Qatari ownership, (2) the market value MOJ would adopt, (3) whether it qualifies for residence at the QR 730,000 or QR 3.65 million level, and (4) the documents and fees for MOJ residence approval.

Kind regards,
[Name] · [Mobile] · [Email]

Action plan

When	Action	Who / where
Day 1	Pick your route (page 4); send the email above or ask Jusour or Invest Qatar	MOJ · Jusour · Invest Qatar
Week 1	Attest documents from abroad; good-conduct certificates	Home country · Qatar embassy
Weeks 2–6	Buy and register the property, or form the company, or join an incubator	MOJ · Single Window · incubator
Next	MOJ approval or authority letter, then MOI residence and QID	MOJ · MOI
After	Family applications; diary the 90-day presence rule and renewal	MOI

Keep a residency folder with your title deed or company papers, authority letters, attested documents, permits and a record of days spent in Qatar.

Disclaimer: summarises official sources current to 20 October 2026; not legal or investment advice. Programme terms are still evolving, so confirm with the authority before you invest.

Sources · 2 Cabinet Decision No. 28 of 2020 · 4 Invest Qatar · 8 MOJ service · 10 MOI Executive Regulations

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Business ResourceThe Gateway Library

Investing in Qatar? Start at the right gate.

Address Gateway sets up companies with 100% foreign ownership where the activity allows, and stays with you after formation: licences, approvals, documents and the next step. This guide is one of many we are publishing to make that journey clearer.

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The Gateway Library · Resource No. 021 · PRO, Visas & Residency · October 2026

Investor residency in Qatar: the real "golden visa"

More than company formation

What every Business Resource gives you

The collection is growing

The big picture

Contents

Choose your route

Where foreigners can buy

Freehold ownership

Usufruct up to 99 years

Property route step by step

Keeping the residence

Unclear cases

Business investor route

Investor visa application

What is and is not a threshold

Document checklists

Entrepreneur already in Qatar

Entrepreneur and executive programme

Who qualifies

Who qualifies

Permanent residency, fees, contacts

Permanent Residency Card

Known fees

Official contacts

Your first move

Action plan

Investing in Qatar? Start at the right gate.